CK25 vs CK30 Buyer!

[buyerjohn]

ok - sounds like i should wait and get the dedicated grapple -- anybody have the woods model 60 RC -- is cutting 1 inch thick brush good enough or do i need to cut 2 inch? would you get the kioti canopy or go aftermarket? kioti is $300 for fiberglass. other items im getting are:

woods rake LR 72
woods 72" box blade
woods 72" blade
bush hog 2102 ph digger
18 foot carrier (belmont)
R4 tires
KL130
ck30hst
80x hoe...

see any mismatches in this list or other comments?

 

[buyerjohn]

ok - sounds like i should wait and get the dedicated grapple -- anybody have the woods model 60 RC -- is cutting 1 inch thick brush good enough or do i need to cut 2 inch? would you get the kioti canopy or go aftermarket? kioti is $300 for fiberglass. other items im getting are:

woods rake LR 72
woods 72" box blade
woods 72" blade
bush hog 2102 ph digger
18 foot carrier (belmont)
R4 tires
KL130
ck30hst
80x hoe...

see any mismatches in this list or other comments?

 

[Highbeam]

6' boxblade eh? I have found no problem using all 30 HP with the 5' box.

While the woods is a good mower, folks have been buying the cheaper ones and using them way over their ratings with great success. I use mine pretty hard and while I had to repair a couple of things realted to the unique design, the gearbox, blades, and sheet steel are performing well enough. Just be sure you are getting more mower for the extra money. If you're mowing fields of grass then I don't see a need for a high dollar woods mower.

I'm already jealous of your hoe.

 

[Highbeam]

6' boxblade eh? I have found no problem using all 30 HP with the 5' box.

While the woods is a good mower, folks have been buying the cheaper ones and using them way over their ratings with great success. I use mine pretty hard and while I had to repair a couple of things realted to the unique design, the gearbox, blades, and sheet steel are performing well enough. Just be sure you are getting more mower for the extra money. If you're mowing fields of grass then I don't see a need for a high dollar woods mower.

I'm already jealous of your hoe.

 

[buyerjohn]

Hey 7mmrum - thanks for the inputs...in my implement list above, what would be one size smaller with the ck25? ... it's about an $1,500 differential between the two so about 1.5-2 implements! How much gas does your 25 use in a day? one tank? more/less? Is the 25 quieter than the 30?

would you buy different brands/sizes than what I have listed?

thanks, John.

 

[buyerjohn]

Hey 7mmrum - thanks for the inputs...in my implement list above, what would be one size smaller with the ck25? ... it's about an $1,500 differential between the two so about 1.5-2 implements! How much gas does your 25 use in a day? one tank? more/less? Is the 25 quieter than the 30?

would you buy different brands/sizes than what I have listed?

thanks, John.

 

[IslandTractor]

<font color="blue"> It looks like you can also smash and compress the brush with the grapple. </font>

Yes, that and more. Actually while basic use of the grapple is pretty easy, the more I use it the more I realize there are some skills and techniques that will increase its work output substantially. Have you ever seen an elephant at the zoo eating hay? They pull off a big chunk then kind of roll it in their trunk before putting it in their mouth as a compact ball. The grapple can lift way more brush than you can take with one "bite" but if you collect a few bites in a separate mini pile you can compress the brush so that you get much more into the grapple. Alternatively you can take a bite then with the grapple full line up for another bite, open the grapple so the new bite is pressing on the first bite and go at it again. I can usually get at least two sometimes three compressed bites into one load that way. Only downside of adding more is the tendency of stuff to fall out the side when you really overload the grapple. With briars though (see earlier photo), that is not an issue as it binds everything together.

These techniques may not be necessary if you are just moving brush a few feet but I found it handy to use when I was moving the brush a couple hundred yards. Love those big monster loads (but be sure to keep a heavy implement on the rear for balance). I cannot tell you how satisfying it is to take a huge load of otherwise horrible brambles etc to its death without getting off the tractor or all scratched up. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[IslandTractor]

<font color="blue"> It looks like you can also smash and compress the brush with the grapple. </font>

Yes, that and more. Actually while basic use of the grapple is pretty easy, the more I use it the more I realize there are some skills and techniques that will increase its work output substantially. Have you ever seen an elephant at the zoo eating hay? They pull off a big chunk then kind of roll it in their trunk before putting it in their mouth as a compact ball. The grapple can lift way more brush than you can take with one "bite" but if you collect a few bites in a separate mini pile you can compress the brush so that you get much more into the grapple. Alternatively you can take a bite then with the grapple full line up for another bite, open the grapple so the new bite is pressing on the first bite and go at it again. I can usually get at least two sometimes three compressed bites into one load that way. Only downside of adding more is the tendency of stuff to fall out the side when you really overload the grapple. With briars though (see earlier photo), that is not an issue as it binds everything together.

These techniques may not be necessary if you are just moving brush a few feet but I found it handy to use when I was moving the brush a couple hundred yards. Love those big monster loads (but be sure to keep a heavy implement on the rear for balance). I cannot tell you how satisfying it is to take a huge load of otherwise horrible brambles etc to its death without getting off the tractor or all scratched up. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[7mmrum]

buyerjohn,

I apoligize I made one mistake, I forgot to list the box blade that it to can be run at 1 size bigger on the CK30 then the CK25 can handle. I have attached a pic that gives the implement comparison between the two models and what Kioti recommends. In your list the box blade would have to be resized to a 60" for the CK25 to be used properly.

Fuel it is hard to say, I can run for quite some time, I want to say 6-8 hours, maybe more, I don't want to say for sure with out timing it. I do know I have started at 10am and by 6pm I'm done, and I still have fuel, this is only time that I have measured the time duration and it is during bush hogging. I'm sure some will say no way not over 8hrs. I can give you a better idea on Monday, this Sunday I'm due to bush hog and it ususally takes me most of the day.

Motor wise in decibles compared to the CK30, I have no idea, I'd say it would be the same. I know it is one of the quieter tractors I have heard. My Cub, and all my neighbors mowers are definitely louder then my tractor.

Woods and Bush Hog brand implement are top grade equipment, 95% will agree here. heck, I'd like a set.

The only thing that I may for warn you on, and this goes back to your original post. Is for a PHD. I have a leinbach PHD, 12", it does the job. But after digging 65 posts, I'm done with digging posts. I have 300+ posts to install; to put a fence up around our property. I'm considering post drivers at this stage. I still like my PHD, I used it over the weekend to dig footers for the barn I'm putting up. However it will be too time consuming drilling 300 holes, dropping the post in, tamping the ground making sure it is level, etc.

You may have already done this but, jump on both models and test them out, this is your decision and you need to feel comfortable with it. Now I don't want to come across negative here, but this is the only way to say this. We here on TBN can give advice, but I'm not recommending that you need to buy the CK25 becuase it works for me, or a CK30 owner saying it works for him. It needs to work for you. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[7mmrum]

buyerjohn,

I apoligize I made one mistake, I forgot to list the box blade that it to can be run at 1 size bigger on the CK30 then the CK25 can handle. I have attached a pic that gives the implement comparison between the two models and what Kioti recommends. In your list the box blade would have to be resized to a 60" for the CK25 to be used properly.

Fuel it is hard to say, I can run for quite some time, I want to say 6-8 hours, maybe more, I don't want to say for sure with out timing it. I do know I have started at 10am and by 6pm I'm done, and I still have fuel, this is only time that I have measured the time duration and it is during bush hogging. I'm sure some will say no way not over 8hrs. I can give you a better idea on Monday, this Sunday I'm due to bush hog and it ususally takes me most of the day.

Motor wise in decibles compared to the CK30, I have no idea, I'd say it would be the same. I know it is one of the quieter tractors I have heard. My Cub, and all my neighbors mowers are definitely louder then my tractor.

Woods and Bush Hog brand implement are top grade equipment, 95% will agree here. heck, I'd like a set.

The only thing that I may for warn you on, and this goes back to your original post. Is for a PHD. I have a leinbach PHD, 12", it does the job. But after digging 65 posts, I'm done with digging posts. I have 300+ posts to install; to put a fence up around our property. I'm considering post drivers at this stage. I still like my PHD, I used it over the weekend to dig footers for the barn I'm putting up. However it will be too time consuming drilling 300 holes, dropping the post in, tamping the ground making sure it is level, etc.

You may have already done this but, jump on both models and test them out, this is your decision and you need to feel comfortable with it. Now I don't want to come across negative here, but this is the only way to say this. We here on TBN can give advice, but I'm not recommending that you need to buy the CK25 becuase it works for me, or a CK30 owner saying it works for him. It needs to work for you. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif